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Civil War Soldiers - Fremont

Fremont, John C., major-general, U.S.
Army, was born in Savannah, Ga., Jan. 21, 1813, and was educated at
Charleston college, from which he was expelled before graduation,
although subsequently, in 1836, he was given his degree by the college
authorities. He became teacher of mathematics on the sloop-of-war
"Natchez" in 1833, on which he took a two-year cruise, and, on
returning, passed the necessary examination and was appointed
professor of mathematics in the U. S. navy. He was commissioned 2nd
lieutenant in the U. S. topographical engineers in 1838, while engaged
in exploring the country between the Missouri and the northern
frontier, and in 1842, having suggested a geographical survey of all
the territories of the United States, he was sent at the head of a
party of 28 men to explore the Rocky mountain region. In accomplishing
this he ascended the highest peak of the Wind River mountains, which
was afterwards known as Fremont's peak. He next explored the territory
between the Rocky mountains and the Pacific, then a region almost
unknown, and early in 1843 started with a party of 39 men, and, after
a journey of 1,700 miles, reached Great Salt lake. It was his report
of this region which gave to the Mormons their first idea of settling
in Utah. He proceeded thence to the tributaries of the Columbia river
and in November started upon the return trip, but, finding himself
confronted with imminent danger of death from cold and starvation,
turned west, and, after great hardship, succeeded in crossing the
Sierra Nevada range and in March reached Sutter's fort in California.
His return journey was conducted safely by the southern route, and he
reached Kansas in July, 1844. He went on another exploring expedition
in 1845, spending the summer along the continental divide and crossing
the Sierras again in the winter. Upon refusal of the Mexican
authorities to allow him to continue his explorations, he fortified
himself with his little force of 64 men on a small mountain some 30
miles from Monterey, but when the Mexicans prepared to besiege the
place he retreated to Oregon. He was overtaken near Klamath lake, May
9, 1846, by a courier with despatches from Washington, directing him
to watch over the interests of the United States in the territory,
there being reason to fear interference from both Great Britain and
Mexico. He promptly returned to California, where the settlers,
learning that Gen. Castro was already marching against the
settlements, flocked to his camp, and in less than a month Northern
California was freed from Mexican authority. He received a
lieutenant-colonel's commission, May 27, and was elected governor of
the territory by the settlers July 4. Learning on July 10 that Com.
Sloat, commanding the American squadron on the Pacific coast, had
seized Monterey, Fremont joined him and, when Com. Stockton arrived
with authority to establish the power of the United States in
California, Fremont was appointed by him military commandant and civil
governor. Near the end of the year Gen. Kearny arrived with a force of
dragoons and said that he had orders also to establish a government.
Friction between the two rival officers immediately ensued, and
Fremont prepared to obey Stockton and continued as governor in spite
of Kearny's orders. For this he was tried by court-martial in
Washington, and, after a trial which lasted more than a year, was
convicted, Jan. 31, 1847, of "mutiny," "disobedience to the lawful
command of a superior officer," and "conduct to the prejudice of good
order and military discipline," and was sentenced to dismissal from
the service. President Polk approved of the conviction for
disobedience and mutiny, but remitted the penalty and Fremont
resigned. In Oct., 1848, Fremont started on an independent exploring
expedition with a party of 33 men, and reached Sacramento in the
spring of 1849 after more severe sufferings than those experienced on
any of his earlier expeditions. He represented California in the
United States senate from Sept., 1850, to March, 1851, and in 1853
made his fifth and last exploring expedition, crossing the Rocky
mountains by the route which he had attempted to follow in 1848.
Fremont's known opposition to slavery won him the presidential
nomination of the Republican party in 1856, but in the election he was
defeated by Buchanan, who received 174 electoral votes to Fremont's
114. Soon after the beginning of the Civil war Fremont was appointed
major- general in the regular army and assigned to command the newly
organized Western Department with headquarters at St. Louis. Soon
after the battle of Wilson's creek, Aug. 10, 1861, he proclaimed
martial law, arrested active secessionists, suspended the publication
of papers charged with disloyalty, and issued a proclamation assuming
the government of the state and announcing that he would free the
slaves of those in arms against the Union. This proclamation he
refused to withdraw, and on Sept. 11, the president annulled it as
unauthorized and premature. Fremont was relieved of his command, Nov.
2, 1861, many complaints having been made of his administration, but
in March, 1862, he was placed in command of the Mountain Department of
Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky. Early in June he pursued the
Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson for 8 days, finally engaging him at
Cross Keys, June 8, but permitted him to escape with his army. When
the Army of Virginia was created, June 26, to include Gen. Fremont's
corps, with Pope in command, Fremont declined to serve on the ground
that he outranked Pope, and for sufficient personal reasons. He then
went to New York where he remained throughout the war, expecting a
command, but none was given him. He was nominated for the presidency,
May 31, 1864, by a small faction of the Republican party, but, finding
but slender support, he withdrew his name in September. He
subsequently became interested in the construction of railroads, and
in 1873, was prosecuted by the French government for alleged
participation in the swindles connected with the proposed
transcontinental railway from Norfolk to San Francisco, and was
sentenced, on default, to fine and imprisonment, no judgment being
given on the merits of the case. Gen. Fremont was governor of Arizona
in 1878-81, and was appointed major-general on the retired list by act
of Congress in 1890. He died in New York city, July 13, 1890.

Source: The Union Army: A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal
States 1861-1865, Volume 8 Biographical, 1908